Vertebral adjusting appliance



July 21, 1936.

DL P. REDDING VERTEBRAL ADJUSTING APPLIANCE Filed Aug. 6, 1934 WNYINVENTOR.

Patented July 21, 1936 UNITED STATES VERTEBRAL AnJUs'riNG APPLIANCEDaniel ifaeaig, Kansas city, AppneaumY August s, 1934, serial No.733,671 16 claims. (01.12849) My inventionlrelates to appliances for useby chiropractors in` adjusting SliblltxaL-tiurisr` of the vertebrae. Itis 4adapted for manual application to the patient by the practitioner.Ve" Therobjectsof inventien are:

1.' To provide an improved process for adjusting vertebralsubluxa-tions; Y 2,- To provide a light, simple, durable and easilyoperated and easily controlled appliance which loi can be utilized ingiving chiropractic adjustments, of such a nature that force can beapplied to the' Spine or to any given vertebra 'and readily directed inany desired-direction, or in any desired line of drive;

` 3, To provide an appliance scribed:V Y

(a) 'By which the amount of force to lbe applied in any given instancecan be'regulated and pre-V determined by the operator with great'accuracy;

e (o) By which the same amount of force can be applied in successiveadjustments;

(c) By which the amount of force applied in successive adjustments canbe either-increased or diminished froml time totiine;

" ftd) 'By `which a 4uni-form freedom of recoil can be assured;

'(e) By which a uniformly short length of time during which theadjusting force is applied, can be assured;

of the 'crass dete? (f) ABy which the amount of force to applied inany'given instance can be denitely'predeterr'nined independently of thephysical or mental o r nervous condition of the operator; `(fyiA Bywhich the operator canY be assured 325V against the application ofexcessive Vferce or thev application of insuicient force for a givenadjust# men-t;

j (fh) By which a chiropractor can administer the desired adjustmenteven' though lacking in 40* the physical strength necessary to'administer it entirely by theruse of his own hahcls,v and even though'he lacks the experience, practice and physicalV training necessary to.enable him te perform such Van adjustment manually and Without 5' the'use of an ,auxiliary appliance; ci' By which a predeternnned amount oftorque can Iloe applied inconnection with the applicationof thenecessary pressure or lirripa'ct upon 50 theV spine or any particularvertebra thereof, in

making a chiropractic adjustment; A

(75) By which the torque may lbe applied in either-.direction inconnection with the impact'or pressure upon the vertebra in the courseof ad spi` justment;

(1c) By which the amount .of torque utilized iny giving adjustments maybe varied;

(l) By which the force applied in giving an" adjustment maybe localizedand applied to a more restricted area than when such adjustments areadministered by hand alone;

(m) By which `resilient bodies of varying de; grees of hardness andresiliency may -be utilized for manual application to the subluxatedspine or vertebrae for adjustment thereof; l@

(ni By which resilient bodies of varying sizes rnay ibe` utilized formanual application to the subluxated spine or vertebrae for adjustmentthereof.`

I attain these objects .by the means illustrated 15 3 Figure l; 20

Y Figure' 3 is an enlarged detail of the front end of my appliance;

Figure 4 is a detail view of the plunger, ,8,1 show; ing. it turnedabout a quarter of a revolution from the position shown in Figure 1 witha straight 25 groove, 32, at the front thereof;

Figure 51s a detail showing the sight, l', formed therein.

For convenience I refer to the left of Figure 1' asthe front and to theright of Figure 1 as the 3U rear.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

My appliance comprises a barrel, l, having a cylindrical cap, 2,threaded upon the front endl 35 thereof and a cylindrical cap, 25,threadedv upon the rear end thereof.

A plunger, 6, is slidably mounted Within the barrel Vthe rear end ofwhich projects intoJ or through a bore formed in the prolonged end of 4Uthe rear cap, 25. A head, 6',isformed at the front ef the plunger, 6. Anannular stop, 23,A is seatedl in the barrel, I, or may be formedintegral therewith .and al spacer, 24, is seated in the rear of thebarrel between the stop 23, and the cap, ,25,

An opening or sight, Ii', is yleft in the side ofthe' barrel, l, a innein front of the trigger 12. The plunger, 6, is calibrated .and hasmarked on the' side thereof numerals, I, which maybe used` to` indicatea calibrationthereof either in pounds or any other desired form. Ifdesired,- the cali'A brationmarks' may be placed at the rear of the'plunger, v8, so that they can read from the pori tion of the plunger, 8,projecting to the rear ofthe" barrel, when in charged position. 55"

sizes of instruments. A secondary plunger, 8, is slidingly mountedrwithin a central bore formed inthe cap, 2, and

extends lengthwise thereof. A resilient head, 8', of rubber or otherAsuitable material, ismounted upon therearjen'd ofthe plunger,`8;adjacent a collar, 8", which is mountedupon or formed integral with theplunger, 8.

with a collar, 5, formed integraltlirewithland upon the Vfront end ofsaid plungerand .thecol-` lar, 5, a resilient head, 4, is mounted.: Thishead,

4, is preferably made of ru'lo'k'ierf?v Afplurality of .2 heads, 4, maybe provided with each .apparatusvv of diierent sizes and differentdegrees of re-"f" silienceiandhardness.andthese heads are made readilyremovableisothat they .'.canbe easily exchanged as requiredfordiiferent'- cases Spiral grooves,-3|. and-3,l, are; cut inthe facethe pin,-.29f,' inA one Vofi the'V grooves, andfwhen-sol he1d,: thefpin, i 29,-,wi11 1 causea .turning orL Vtwisting motion of theplungergl, wheneverl itis moved longitudinally within; the. cap,12. 2 1:f"

When the pin, 29, is inserted in the'straight positedirection'respectively when thev plunger, 8'; is drivenlongitudinallyof, the barrel, I, andtheA @gpg-J2, ir. f ,Y

The plunger or rod,{6, basi-formed 'tl1ereon...a lockfc'ornprisingaplurality of'teeth, :6b',..and upon its opposite side-.is :providedfwithva plurality? of Y inclined'notches,*6.;i fr. l

A handle, I4, is united toiv the barrel., near the rearthereof, with fside plates, 1.5,. secured thereto'v by pins, 21. "Tle'ffront oftheupper portion' of the. vhandle iis `-slotted f to receive aitriglge'r;`i |2,-the 'upper-'fend of whichmaybe pvoted u 'onf' pivots,26,threaded into the handleiand'v handlewhich bears againstthe lower(portion of thetrigg'erin a forward direotionlandagainst f adepti. ed,tefheld j the trigger in `the charged? position, triggeflfs provided..withfa Cathgll! which iilrojects' inton and lits against the urearIwalls4 ofthe notches, Bf, actsv tofrestrainthe plunger; against.;forward; travelv whenpfi-rlmanually, the .catch I2:,. is withdrawn from.2con-r.

.pivotally secured upon the pivot,l 22. The front end of the plunger, 8,is provided ....barrel,vv A|,vhavinga small opening upon the rear l5 ,yface thereofwhich'is adapted to receive a ball, I 6, carried by thecharging lever, 9, and to'rretain tact with the notches, 6", vand thespring,1,

drives the plunger, 6, forward. Y

The handle, I4, is provided with an upward extension in which a pivot,22, is secured and upon this pivot is mounted a gear wheel, l0, theteeth 5 Y of which correspond to the teeth, 6b, of the plunger, 6, thewheel, I0, being adapted to actuate Y the plunger to place same in thecharged position and to be actuated by the plunger, 6, whentravelingforward, j

A charging lever, 9, h sa fork, i9', at its lower end whichvstraddlesthe gear wheel, l0, andis A detent, 28, is mounted upon orformedintegral Vwith the the charging lever, .9, in its downward orlatched positione Y f The b'all, I6, is Vsecured at'the front or upper20 end of the charging leven. rbyalap; .Hkwhich sthreaded upon Vtheforward or upper endrof the;,1ever,9, and ,a compression spring, YI8,.,is mounted Withina suitable bore formedin theV free end of thechargingleverfS, and bears against 25 thevrloall,A ,I,6 .so'as toucausethe ball' toretain the charging lever in the. position Ashown in dottedvlines in Figurel, with a light pressure whichv may be overcomemanuallybytheoperator when the.

V for-wardend of .the. lever, V9, ,is pulled upwardly.V

or away from the barrel,",|,., Y u Y,

A threwrm; pawl,. l l, is f pvcltally mounted Y within,tlfieuforkofvtheylever,`9.by apivot pin or other suitable means, 2|. VA spring,Y2|),V has one end securedto the leven-.9, by a pin.. 20a,. The free endof the spring, 20, bears against one .arni ofthe pawl, ||and tends tosecure thepawl in engagement with the teeth .of the gearfwheel, 0.1 Thepawl, Il, is provided. with, an upwardly ex; tendingA arm loringerrwhiohv mayvreadily be o pressed ubythe. thumb of. theoperator randthev pawl be thus'disengagedv from the gear. wheel, I0. The, third armorfinger ofthe pawl, I|,. is adapted to engagethe, uppersurfaceofthebarrel when the charging lever, ,9, is vreturnedto the positionshown in dotted lines in Figure Il and to hold the pawl, I,;outoiengagementwith theV teeth-of the gear whee1 ,||l. ,3 im; Y

A collar, 8,V is formed Vnear the rearpeirid.2 of?V the plunger, 9.,which will contact with thecap.v 2, and act-.as `aietent tokprevent .theplunger, 8, from being projected entirely out of the barrelp and Cap, 2;r f ci; f ,-In the Voperation.of my .device-the charging lever, ,9,Visvrai'sed from the horizontal to `the obliqueV position shown inFigure 1,g and as itv is raised, carries the pawl, I l, with it. Thespring,l 20,;.actingupon one arm.. of the pawl, causes the pawl-toengage with the teeth of the gealwheel; |0. AAsthe charging;.levleriswthen .moved forl; wardly anddownwardlyfthe gearwheel carriestheplunger, 6, to. the .rear and the notches,` 6I',

. are engaged by the catch, |2'.ofY the trigger, I 2,'v

f andthe plunger, k6, is thus retained invits' par?` tially chargedposition. The'lever, 9, may then 65.- be again raisedand lowered andvthe plunger, 6, moved still farther to' therearwhere itAis againvdetained by the trigger and 'this operation repeated'until the desiredposition of the plunger,v 6, is reached. "5' V1 f The pawl, |I,4 isthenV released from 4theA gear wheelby the thumb Vpressure upon theupwardlyV extending arm of thell'pawl, and-'the charging leverlocked inthe position shown in. dottedlines in Figure 1 parallel to the barrel;fi; z.-'f;

l"Tl'le-'plungerli, is shown itsl charged position inf` dotted lines,6a, 6'a and 6"a. When the plunger, 6, has .been locked in its chargedposition, the plunger, 8, is manually pushed to the rear s o that'thehead, 8,', comes into contact With-the head of the plunger, 8, and thehead, 4, is-in-the position shown in dotted lines as 4a.

The appliance is'thenplaced in position relativeto the patient so thatthe head, 4, is in 'contact with the patients back in the desiredposition relative to the portion of the" spine or vertebra to which theadjustingV force is 1 to be applied-the pin, 29, having been previouslyseated in one ofthe grooves, 3| or 3|', so as to produce the desiredtorquev or the pin, 29, may have been removed entirely so as to avoidthe application of any torque. The barrel is then carefully alined 'inthe'desired direction in which it is desired `to have the adjustingforceV applied. The appliance is then held firmly by the operator andthe trigger pulled. When the trigger is pulled, the plunger, 6, will beforced by :the spring, 1, forwardly with the force corresponding'to thedegree to which the spring, 1, has been compressed in the chargingoperation. The plunger, 6, transmits its force to the plunger, 8, and inturn to the head, 4, from which it is transmitted to the patient.

The spring, 1, bearing against the stop, 23, will naturally cause arecoil of the barrel, I, as the plunger, 8, and head, 4, are pressedagainst the back of the patient. Any recoil movement of the barrel willtend to carry with it the plunger, 6and thus leave a short spacewithinwhich the plunger, 8, itself may recoil to the rear after thepressure'of the plunger, 6, thereon has bee withdrawn. I prefer toproportion the parts of my apparatus so that the spring, 1, will notextend far enough at any time to hold the head of the plunger, 6, incontact with the head, 8', of the plunger 8, when in its forwardmostposition so that there will normally be a certain distance in which theplunger, 8, is free to recoil. However, I do not limit my claims to anappliance of fixed size or proportions, but the various parts of myappliance may be Vvaried to suit the requirements ofdifferent cases. YMy process is-carried out by the use of the apparatus just described andwill be readily understood by those skilled in the chiropractic art.v'It is a matter of common knowledge among chiropractors `that differentvertebral subluxationsY require diierent lines of drive of the forceapplied to correct them; also that some subluxations may require acertain amount of torque or'twisting movement to the right and othersmay require a torque to the left. Y

For convenience and clearness inthe claims, I have referred to theplunger orrod, 6, as the driving rod or rod and-to the plunger orrod,=8, as the plungerz v-For convenience I shall refer to the 4directforce applied to the spine in adjusting a subluxation as the drive ordriving force and to the rotary or twisting movement sometimes appliedin giving such adjustments as the torque, which may be either to theright or left as the case may be. I shall also refer to the direction inwhich the direct force is applied as the line of drive. v

Itis a matter of common knowledge among chiropractors that the amount offorce necessarytc adjust subluxated vertebrae differs widely indifferent` eases, depending somewhat upon the age and musculardevelopment of the patient, the nature, position and extent of thesubluxation, the length of time which has elapsed since the subluxationoccurred and other factors it is unnecessary to specify.

It is also a matter of common knowledge that itl is important forchiropractor practitioner to develop a high degree of strength andagility in the muscles of his hands and arms to enable him to administeradjustments generally with the desired success.

It is well known that the correction of subluxatons inl many casesoccurs during what is commonly known as the recoil rather than duringthe application of the driving force.

We find in practice that two forces are in. concussion, the invasionaryforce being delivered by the operator or the instrument and theresistance force being returned and coming from the object struck. Thesubluxation is not ad- 204i justed by the invasionary force alone,neither is the subluxation adjusted by the resistance force from withinalone; but the adjustment of a subluxated vertebra takes place when thetwo forces come in contact each with the other; the body 251" is drivenaway from and then recoils. It is during this recoil reaction upon thepart of the body that the actual correct repositioning of the subluxatedvertebra takes place.

In other words, there is a certain amount of 305 the blow or impact inproportion to the force 33:

applied, and as soon as the force of the blow or impact ceases or isremoved, the natural resilience of the spinal structures causes arebound or reaction which is commonly called a recoil.A This recoil isan important element in accomplishing the return of the subluxatedvertebra to its normal position.

'Ihese conditions render it necessary that any process of adjustment, tobe successful, must involve the application of the proper or requisite'5 amount of force or direct drive upon the proper portion of the spineand this force must be directed in the proper direction. Such processmust also permit full freedom of recoil or reaction. v

My apparatus provides means by which the direction of the drive can beaccurately controlled. 'Ihe driving rod slides longitudinally of thebarrel. It is obvious then that if the contact head, 4, be placed incontact with the backof a patient at the desired point, the barrel maybe inclined so that it points in the direction in which it is desired tohave the force applied and as the trigger is pulled and the driving rod,6, moves forward in the barrel, the driving force will necessarily beapplied in the direction in which the barrel is pointed.

My apparatus also provides means by which the amount of force to beapplied by direct drive can be regulated or predetermined. The length ofthe driving rod, 6, and of the rack formed by the teeth, Bb, is suchthat the driving rod may be retracted to various degrees measured by thenotches, 6". As the rod, 6, is retracted, its head exerts pressure uponthe coiled spring,` 1, and compresses it, the coiled spring, 1, beingmade of suitable size to afford the maximum desired amount of force whenthe driving rod is retracted toV the last notch, 6, and to afford inter-752' mediate degrees of force'forthe intermediate notches. c y ,l

The spring, 1, and the travel of the drivingrod,

6, are intended to bev soproportioned that whenY tended to beproportional to the varyindgrees of force which chiropractors have'foundit necessary to utilize ingiving adjustments manually.

Itis obvious that my appliance maybe made so as to be able to deliver animpact of greater force than could be delivered manually in the ordinaryway, and where'a chiropractor has insuf-4 ficient strength to apply thedesired amountnof force, my appliance will afford a ready means ofapplying a greater force thanV he cando by the use ofhis hands alone.;AY

Likewise, it has been found that many persons do not possess therequisite agility-that is, they do not have ,sufficientlyl rapid controlof theirfmuscular movements-to vdeliver a sudden impact by hand and thenwithdraw the hand with sufficient rapidity to permit a free recoil ofthe patient. My apparatus obviously can be depended upon l to permitasudden recoil because-the actionof 'thespring 1, will naturally causecertain inertia in the drivingrod, 16 which will tend, to carry itsomewhat beyond the normal length of the spring,

i; 1,- and as the spring .pressure is thus `removed from it, Vthedriving rod; 5, will be free l.tour'eturn as the plunger, 8, is drivenbackward bythe recoil of the patient acting upon the resilient head, 4.The resilience of the head, 4, will also assist in this recoil movement,f Y* v Instead of the torque or twisting movementy of Vthe hand or handsof the operator inadjusting,

my apparatus providesfor a torque or twisting movement of the head, 4,which takes the place 'of the torque delivered by the; operator`directly and maybe eitherl increased or diminished by the loperato-1'by turning lthehandle, I either to the f right or `left as may bedesired at the time the trigger is pulled.\

I do not limit my claims to the precise form of apparatus herejshown nortothe exact. descriptionofmy process above set out, but claim broadlyboth apparatus and process and their equivalents. m f 1 ".Iclaim: Y f

'1. In a vertebral adjusting appliance, a barrel, a pistolgrip unitedthereto, a driving rod s lid-A ingly ymounted in the barrel, a plungermounted in the front end of thebarrel, a head united to the Afront endof the plunger, ahelical spring mountedwithin the barrel adapted toexert pressure rearwardly against the barrel and forwardly against thedriving rod, a trigger mounted inthe grip having acatch formed integraltherewith, notches formed inthe one side of the driving rod 'adapted tobe engaged by the catch 'of Ythe trig-v pawl pivoted in the fork of thesetting lever adapted toengage the teeth 'ofthe wheel and to actuatesame when the setting Vlever ismoved forwardly from itsvertical to ahorizontal position, spring-,j-V actuated means wfor'holding thepawl inengage-` Y ment with the teeth of the wheeL/andmanually operable meansfor releasing theV pawl. i 7' 5 y 2. Infa vertebral adjusting appliance,a barrel,

a grip united thereto, a driving Vrod slidably mounted Yin, the barrel,a plunger mounted'in; the front end; ofthe barrel, a head united'to` thefront Y end. f 'the plunger, reslientmeans V,Irwunted withe 1.o: in theYbarrel adapted, when in `charged position, to exert.; pressurerearwardly against the barrel` and forwardly against thejdriving'rod, atrigger mounted in the grip, means by whichthe rod can be retained incharged position and released when f Y the trigger is pulled,agsettinglever one end of which is forked, having itsforkedend pivotallyunited to the barrel, a slot in the upper face oi the barrel adjacent tosaid forka'toothed wheel ref, volvablyV mounted within the fork upon theset` 20,` ting lever pivota pawl pivoted inthe 'forkfof the settingVlever adapted tov engage the teeth ,of the wheel andto actuatesamefwhen the setting lever is moved' forwardly from itsl verticalgtoallori- Zontal position, spring-actuated means forholdfv ing the pawl inengagement Withthe teeth Of the wheel, andA manually operable meansforreleasing the pawl.V

3. VIn a vertebral Yadjusting appliance, la barrel, a pistol grip unitedthereto,V a driving rod slid-r 39*- ably mounted in the barrel, aplunger mounted in the front end of thebarrel, a resilienthead united to`therfront end of the plunger, afhelical spring mounted within thebarrel adapted to exert pressure rearwardly. against thenbarreland for-35::

'wardly against therdrivingrod, atrigger mounted in the Vgrip having acatch formed integraltheref with,fnotches formed in the one side of the.driving rod adaptedto be engagedV by the catch .oftheV trigger by whichthe rod can beV retained Vin 40 charged position and releasedwhen thetrigger is pulled, and manually operable means united to Vthe barrel `bywhich the driving rod can.` be placed in charged position and so helduntil Vre-f leased by pulling the trigger.V Y

4. In a vertical adjusting appliance, Aa barrel, aV grip e united,thereto, a.drivingl rod slidably mounted in the barrel, a plungermOllIltedin the front end .of the'barrel, a head united toI the frontendv of the,y plunger; resilient meansmount-Y 5,0 eddwithin thebarreladapted, when in lchargedV position, to exert pressurerearwardlyagainst the barreland forwardly against the,v driving` rod,;a triggermounted in the grip,'means by whichthe Y rod can be retained in chargedposition and re-Y leased when the triggeris pulled, and manuallyoperable means united to the barrel by which'the driving rod can beplaced in charged position and Vand forwardly against the driving rod, atrigger mounted in the grip, adjustable means by. which the rod can beretained in charged position and released when the trigger is pulled, Aasetting lever 70.;

one end of which is forked, having,V its forked end pivotally united tothe barrel,`.a slot in the upperffaceof the barrel adjacent tosaidfo'rk, a. toothedV Vwheel revolvably` mounted ,within the fork upon.the setting lever pivot, apawl pivoted 7.5i

in ,the fork lof fthe :setting :lever .adaptedwto Ienga'ge theteeththewneel and 4tofactuate same when; the -settingfflever is-g .movedforwardly `from i its verticalto; a` horizontal, position,spring-actuated means fior iholdi-ne the rawl -in .engagement 1 with theteetlrfefnthe wheel;A and manually Operable means hforreleasing therewi.f

6. In a vertebral adjustingappliance,asbarrel, a; grip;v unitedthereto,v a driving rodv slidably mounted in i the, barrel,- a plunger:mounted-in the frontend ofthe barrel, ahead united togthe front end ofthe plunger, -resilientmeans,- j mounted within the-barrel adapted,whenin. charged posi-- tion, ltoefexert pressure: rearWardlyf-againstthe barreland-,forwardly against the driving rod, av triggermountedinthe grip, adjustable-means by which therodcan be retained incharged position and released when theftrigger isv pulled, and manuallyoperablef` means united yto the.barrelj by Whichjthe-fdrivi-ng rodean beplaced in charged position and so held until released by pulling thetrigger.

7. In a vertebral adjusting'appliance, a barrel, a pistol grip unitedthereto, a driving rod slidably mounted in the barrel, a plunger mountedin the front end of the barrel adapted to be actuated by the driving rodwhen released from charged position, a resilient head united to thefront end. of the plunger, a helical spring mounted within the barreladapted to exert pressure rearwardly against the barrel and forwardlyagainst the driving rod, a trigger mounted in the grip, a catch formedon the trigger, notches formed in one side of the driving rod adapted tobe engaged by the catch of the trigger by which the rod can be retainedin charged position and released when the trigger is pulled, andmanually operable means united to the barrel by which the driving rodcan be placed in charged position and so held until released by pullingthe trigger.

8. In a vertebral adjusting appliance, a barrel, a pistol grip unitedthereto, a driving rod slidably mounted in the barrel, a plunger mountedin the front end of the barrel adapted to be actuated by the driving rodwhen released from charged position, resilient heads united to both endsof the plunger, a helical spring mounted within the barrel adapted toexert pressure rearwardly against the barrel and forwardly against thedriving rod, a trigger mounted in the grip, a catch formed onV thetrigger, notches formed in one side of the driving rod adapted to beengaged by the catch of the trigger by which the rod can be retained incharged position and released when the trigger is pulled, and manuallyoperable means united to the barrel by which the driving rod can beplaced in charged position and so held until released by pulling thetrigger.

9. In a vertebral adjusting appliance, a barrel, a grip united thereto,a driving rod slidably mounted in the barrel, a plunger mounted in thefront end of the barrel adapted to be actuated by thedriving rod whenreleased from charged position, heads united to both ends of theplunger, means mounted within the barrel adapted, when in chargedposition, to exert pressure rearwardly against the barrel and forwardlyagainst the driving rod, a trigger mounted in the grip, means by whichthe rod can be retained in charged position and released when thetrigger is pulled, and manually operable means united to the barrel bywhich the driving rod can be placed in charged position and so helduntil released by pulling the trigger.

10. In a vertebral adjusting appliance, a barrel,

lengthwisein the capa resilient head unitedto 10 thefrontend of theplunger, a spring mounted withinY the barrel adapted to exert pressurerearwardlyagainst the-barrel and forwardly-against the ,driyfing-rodandcause the` driving rod tol actuate thefplunger when released fromcharged position, a triggerl vmounted in the grip, notches formed inonemside of the driving rodadapted to be vengagedjbyftheoatch of thetriggerby which the rod can ,bev retained in charged vposition andreleased when the4 trigger-is pul1ed,-and manually 20.;

operable means united to the barrel by which the driving rod can beplaced in charged position and so held until released by pulling thetrigger.

11. In a vertebral adjusting appliance, a barrel,

` a cylindrical cap threaded upon the front end 25 thereof, a pistolgrip united to the barrel, a driving rod slidably mounted in the barrel,a plunger slidably mounted in the front end of the barrel and thecylindrical cap and having oppositely directed spiral grooves cut in theperiphery 30 thereof, a removable pin seated in the cap with its innerend adapted to seat in either of said grooves and cause the plunger torotate as it moves lengthwise in the cap, a resilient head united to thefront end of the plunger, resilient 35 means within the barrel adaptedto exert pressure rearwardly against the barrel and forwardly againstthe driving rod and cause the driving rod to actuate the plunger whenreleased from charged position, a trigger mounted in the grip a catchformed on the trigger, notches formed in one side of the driving rodadapted to be engaged by the catch of the trigger by which the rod canbe retained in charged position and released When the trigger is pulled,and manually operable means united to the barrel by which the drivingrod can be placed in charged position and so held until released bypulling the trigger.

12. In a vertebral adjusting appliance, a barrel, a cylindrical capthreaded upon the front end thereof, a grip united to the barrel, adriving rod slidably mounted in the barrel, a plunger slidably mountedin the front end of the barrel, a cap adapted to be actuated by thedriving rod when released from `charged position, the cylindrical caphaving oppositely directed spiral grooves cut in the periphery thereof,a removable pin seated in the cap with its inner end adapted to seat ineither of said grooves and cause the plunger to rotate as it moveslengthwise in the cap, a resilient head united to the front end of theplunger, resilient means within the barrel adapted to exert pressurerearwardly against the barrel and forwardly against the driving rod andcause the driving rod to actuate the plunger when released from chargedposition, and means adapted to detain the rod in charged position and tosuddenly release it therefrom.

13. The process of adjusting a subluxated ver- 70 tebra which consistsof manually applying thereto a resilient pressure head, and mechanicallycausing the resilient head to rapidly exert a predetermined pressureupon a single vertebra continuing through a predetermined direction of75 6 i travel, which pressure is automatically'instantly released andthe pressure head withdrawnautoinati'cally when the predetermined travel'has been completed. y Y Y e' v14. The process of' adjusting subluxatedver,-A tebrae whichconsistssof manually applying there# to' a resilientlpressure head, and mechanically.

determined pressure upon a single vertebra caus-V ing'it to travel;through a predetermined distance and direction, which pressure isautomatically instantlyy released when the predeterminedtravel hasrbeencompleted and the pressure head with'-` drawnlwith suicient rapidity toavoid'any in# terference with the natural return of the vertebra. to itsnormal position. Y` l R16.A `1The process of adjusting a subluxatedvertebra'whi'ch consists of manually applying thereto `a resilientv'pressure head, and mechanically causingV theY resilient head torapidly exert a pre' determined pressure upon a single vertebra 'conf'tinuing through apredetermined direction and with, a torque or twistingYmovement,`which preslength of travel, including travel forwardly and l5sure is automatically instantly released'and the j 4pressure headwithdrawn' automatically when the predetermined travel has 'beencompleted. "ze" Y f Q I e DANIEL?. RFDVDING;V "201-

